Number 22

I was surprised to find that Guadeloupe made it on today's New York Times article, 39 Reasons to Go to the Caribbean This Year. The order in which the islands appear doesn't seem to correspond to any sort of ranking. Still, Guadeloupe came in at no.22, early enough in the list to escape being considered an afterthought, I think.

Guadeloupe remains largely unknown to Americans. A number of factors contribute to this. Americans need a passport to vacation here. And, of course, they need Euros to pay for it. French-speaking Guadeloupe presents language difficulties for strictly anglophone Americans. Considering the similarities between the various islands in the Caribbean, Americans choose the one that is least problematic.

The most significant factor, however, is the fact Guadeloupe simply doesn't offer what Americans want. No, its not the sand and the surf - Guadeloupe certainly has a lot of that. What Americans are looking for are the all-inclusive resorts, beach towel service and fruity alcoholic drinks with the little umbrellas. In fact, the article highlights that fact right in the beginning:

...with new hotels continuing to open, high-end resorts raising the bar on amenities, family-oriented getaways expanding their offerings and talented chefs starting restaurants that are transforming the region’s culinary scene, there are plenty of reasons for vacationers to seek some solace in the sand and surf of the Caribbean this winter.

Guadeloupe may have a few resort hotels, none are operated by large chains. Without that sort of capital, the resorts simply can't offer the dazzling grounds, or great amenities that can be had on other islands. Just reading the entry on Guadeloupe says it all: "...several established locations have undergone renovations for the coming season, as the island continues to modernize." Thankfully, Guadeloupe's tourism doesn't depend on the NYTimes to draw in the tourists. The description brings to mind out-dated hotels in the midst of a developing country. Still, I suppose its better than the treatment Martinique got: in a 60-word review, the writer uses a good 10 or so to describe the destruction of St.Pierre by volcanic eruption.